Anabaptists and Religious Liberty

It is a historical fact that the earliest and most consistent advocates of religious freedom were anti-Augustinian in theology…

These were the Anabaptists of Germany and Switzerland. They were the first to embrace those views of personal freedom in religion which are rightly regarded as one of the richest treasures of modern life–not only universal toleration but also complete religious liberty through entire separation between church and state.

These views were frequently uttered, but they probably find fullest expression in Balthasar Hubmaier their leading literary representative.